OC Mom Faces Manslaughter Charge After Veteran Dies From Teen E-Motorcycle Crash

ALISO VIEJO, CA — Criminal charges were upgraded Friday against an Orange County woman whose teenage son struck an 81-year-old man while riding an e-motorcycle she allowed him to use despite being warned of its dangers by Orange County Sheriff's deputies, with prosecutors saying the victim died of his injuries this week.

Tommi Jo Mejer, 51, was originally charged last month with child abuse and endangerment and being an accessory after the fact with knowledge of a crime, both felonies, as well as misdemeanor counts of allowing an unlicensed driver to drive a motor vehicle, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and unlawfully providing false information to a police officer, according to the county's district attorney's office.

Mejer's 14-year-old son was riding an e-motorcycle that crashed into 81-year-old Ed Ashman on April 16.

The crash was reported around 4 p.m. near Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive in the City of Lake Forest, deputies said.

Ashman — a substitute teacher and Vietnam veteran — was originally hospitalized in critical condition, with family members saying he died Thursday.

Prosecutors said the teen who struck Ashman was doing wheelies with the Surron e-motorcycle before the crash and then fled the scene.

Following Ashman's death, prosecutors filed an amended complaint Friday and charged Mejer with felony counts of involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment and accessory after the fact to a crime, along with misdemeanor counts of contributing the delinquency of a minor and providing false information to a peace officer.

She also faces an infraction for permitting an unlicensed minor under the age of 18 to drive a motor vehicle.

Mejer faces a maximum sentence of seven years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all counts, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office.

She is due to be arraigned May 21 in Newport Beach.

Prosecutors have charged three parents since January for letting their kids illegally ride e-motorcycles, which are faster because they have more powerful engines than e-bikes. Riders must be 16 and obtain a license to use a Class 3 e-motorcycle.

Mejer complained to Orange County sheriff's deputies in June of last year about someone posting pictures of her son when he was 13 riding an e- motorcycle, prosecutors said. Mejer acknowledged she bought the e-motorcycle for her son and was using it recklessly, prompting warnings from the deputies that she could face charges herself if she continued to let him ride the vehicle, prosecutors alleged.

Prosecutors say the 2025 Surron Ultra Bee, which the teen was riding, requires a motorcycle license, insurance, license plate and registration to use on a public street, and without it the vehicle can only be used on private property or off-highway vehicle areas.

The Ultra Bee can reach speeds up to 58 mph and go from zero to 31 mph in 2.3 seconds, prosecutors said.

When sheriff's deputies investigating the crash that injured Ashman questioned Mejer, she allegedly said her family didn't own an e-motorcycle or have access to one, prosecutors said.

The difference between an e-bike and e-motorcycle is that an e-bike has pedals and cannot exceed 20 mph, prosecutors said.

City News Service contributed to this report.

MORE E-BIKE NEWS IN ORANGE COUNTY:

• OC Veteran, 81, Dies After Crash With Teen On E-Motorcycle
• Teen, 14, On E-Motorcycle Hits Man, 81, And Flees Scene In Orange County: OCSD
• E-Bike Runs Down Elderly Woman In Seal Beach
• OC Mom Of Boy, 14, Who Critically Injured Vietnam Vet In E-Moto Hit And Run Charged: DA
• Rising Surf Star And Grandson Of Famed Master Shaper Killed In OC E-Bike Crash
• OC Dad Charged After Son Hurt While Illegally Riding Modified E-Motorcycle, DA Says
• Teens On E-Bikes Tried To Run Down Black UCI Student, Police Say
• Boy, 12, Hit By Car While Riding E-Bike In Orange County: Report
• OC Family Riding E-Bikes Struck, Injured By DUI Driver
• E-Bike Crash Critically Hospitalizes 2 Teens In OC